Achilles Tendon Injury Management

Gilroy considers options as he awaits word on Macauley injury

GAA  : Dublin’s Leinster semi-final opponents Kildare will have Daryl Flynn available again, as IAN O'RIORDAN  reports.

FRIDAY’S EARLY bird will be the first to catch the Dublin team to play Kildare in Sunday’s Leinster football semi-final double-header at Croke Park, but in the meantime, Dublin manager Pat Gilroy is awaiting a fitness update on midfielder Michael Darragh Macauley, who sat out Dublin’s final practice match last Saturday, as the Ballyboden St Enda’s player is suffering from a foot injury.

It appears to be nothing worse than swelling, although Gilroy is no doubt considering his options.Barry Cahill will take up one midfield position but Denis Bastick, Eamon Fennell and Ross McConnell are all in contention to come in if necessary.

Bastick replaced Cahill in Dublin’s quarter-final win over Laois, and McConnell also appeared late on for a first run since returning from a long-term hip injury.

Philly McMahon is already ruled out for the next six weeks after sustaining medial ligament damage against Laois, with either Paul Brogan or Paul Conlon likely to take over in the full-back line.

Kildare still have long-term injury absentees in Dermot Earley, Ken Donnelly and Peter Kelly, but midfielder Daryl Flynn has recovered from the ankle injury that forced him to miss the Wicklow and Meath games and is likely to see some action – while John Doyle, who has been nursing a minor hamstring strain, is set to retain one of the midfield roles.

Meath’s karmic-like rematch against Louth on Saturday may be the pick of the All-Ireland football qualifiers first round, but it may come too soon for Graham Geraghty, who has been nursing an Achilles tendon injury since the defeat to Kildare, and unable to partake in full training. Brian Farrell is suspended from the red card shown against Kildare, and forward Stephen Bray is also doubtful with a hamstring pull.

Dublin’s preparation for the Leinster hurling final showdown against Kilkenny has been shaken by the loss of full back Tomás Brady for the rest of the season, with the cruciate injury he sustained in Saturday’s semi-final win over Galway. But Kilkenny have been boosted by the news that defender Tommy Walsh is ready to resume action.

Walsh missed the defeat to Dublin in the league final and also Kilkenny’s semi-final win over Wexford, but is now recovered from the shoulder injury and eyeing a starting place in Croke Park on July 3rd.

Oakland A's: Should the A's Deal Josh Willingham? Should They Do ...

Buyers or sellers? That is the question.

It wasn’t long ago that the Oakland Athletics were knee-deep in a June swoon losing 13 out of 14 games.  The climate in Oakland was lukewarm at best, and that’s being nice.

There was still hope due to the A’s pitching staff, but losing starting pitcher Brett Anderson for an extended period of time lowered the temperature a bit in A’s land.  Dallas Braden (out for the season), Brandon McCarthy and Tyson Ross have already been sideline by injuries, but Graham Guthrie and Guillermo Moscoso have filled in and done a formidable job keeping fans off the ledge.

The firing of manager Bob Geren and hiring of Bob Melvin seemed to sit well with A’s fans.

Even with that terrible 14 game stretch, the A’s remain within striking distance of first place.  The school of thought in Oakland seems to be as long as we pitch well we can stay afloat.  With all the injuries, though, the boat has started to take on a little more water.

Bob Melvin has had time to settle, and the A’s have won five in a row, so the question is this: Do the A’s have enough bats to contend, and even with the recent success, are the A’s going to be buyers or sellers before the July 31 trade deadline?

If the A’s choose the latter, the name that keeps popping up is outfielder  Josh Willingham .

I was asked to give 10 reasons why the A’s should sell early on Willingham.  A few things  have transpired since I was asked to write this column, such as Willingham’s Achilles tendon injury, the A’s starting to play better under new manager Bob Melvin and the emergence of rookie second baseman Jemile Weeks. 

Bats are needed in Oakland, this is no secret, and Willingham definitely has not lived up to expectations so far. Or has he? The left fielder is batting .231 with 10 home runs.  The .231 average is a disappointment, but 10 home runs is about right considering he averages just over 14 a year, and 20 home runs are not out of the question.  Willingham also leads the team with 42 RBI. 

The thought of getting rid of a possible 20 home run and 90-plus RBI guy might not make sense.

Although, let’s not forget that we are talking about the A’s, and dealing Willingham early shouldn’t be a shock.

The first thing to consider is his salary, which is $6 million. Couple that with the fact that the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves have shown interest.  Depending on what is offered, the club could consider a deal with one of these teams, especially if they can get another bat at cheaper price.

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